In a statement sent out by the CC on Tuesday, it was explained that they had referred SAFIA and 36 of its members to the Competition Tribunal for ‘prosecution in relation to fixing of prices and trading conditions’.

Now, SAFIA has responded with a statement of their own in which they state that they will be objecting to the referral.

They said in their press release today, “The Association (SAFIA) has now been summoned to the Competitions Tribunal and the Competitions Commission Alleges that SAFIA and its members have agreed to charge its clients a 10% Commission.

“The allegations made by the Competitions Commission are vehemently denied and SAFIA will proceed to object to the referral to the Tribunal. An Answering Affidavit will be filed within the stipulated time period.”

They also went on to give more information their side under the subheading ‘Factual Information’, saying: There has never been an agreement by SAFIA members to charge 10%. The documents submitted to the Competitions Commission reflect that members of SAFIA charge clients various amounts which vary from 0% to more than 10% per transaction.

In the South African context, the commercial contacts are so limited to an extent that it is practically impossible to earn a 20% commission on commercial contracts.

There has been no price fixing by SAFIA or its members, Consumers were never forced to pay a particular price without an effort of adding value. Therefore SAFIA as an organisation was never used as a vehicle for collusion.

The members of SAFIA deny that they colluded to charge a 10% commission. Transactions are based on variables and will vary from one transaction to another.

In addition, SAFIA was only set up 2 years ago but agents all over the world have been charging 10% for decades which clearly demonstrates that SAFIA was not set up in order to collude and price fix.

Bafana Bafana midfielders Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly are said to have ‘kissed and made up’ after an alleged fight in the previous national team camp. Dolly and Zungu reportedly got into a fight after South Africa lost for the second time to Cape Verde. It is alleged that the former Mamelodi Sundowns players got into an argument that almost led to them exchanging blows. Dolly is said to have been upset that Zungu threw a party in his room the same night Bafana Bafana lost to Cape Verde. Bafana Bafana’s technical team is said to have dealt with the matter quietly with the pair making up on the first day of camp when the team prepared to face Burkina Faso. Dolly shared a picture of himself and Zungu on the training field with well wishes for Zungu on his birthday.